mikeyp, What did they value your bike at and what did you offer them?

Ordered a Spectral AL 6.0 2014 a week last Thursday, Arrived this Friday,
First ride tomorrow so I can’t judge but I must say it feels and looks great.
Will update tomorrow!

Looks awesome, Reckon MrsTaco would love it!

Despite the below average acting and Jax’s terrible accent (Hunnam been from Newcastle),
I love it but the wife loves it more (I can’t understand why?!)

Season 7 is I believe the final season,
Loved the Queen tribute, Pure white trash cheese!

Sorry forgot to mention I’m trying to keep the costs down!
Shiplap would look awesome but financial restrictions mean this will never happen!

this?

Lime wash? Doesn’t seem to be readily available? Am I looking for something else?
Even looking for bagged lime to make it up is not on your Wickes.co.uk or diy.com.

Oh! now we’re talking,
1 hour 35mins away!
I’m potentially very interested, Just waiting on insurance payout (hopefully next couple of days) to see how I split my money.

Yeah I’m around 5’6″ maybe just a smidgen below.
Where are you?

I might be selling a medium Pinnacle Ramin 1 for around a similar price.

I would almost definatily be interested if I weren’t so small,
Medium is that word I see open so many doors for so many and close so many for my hobbit self :(
I do like the look of that Ramin 1 though! Have you converted to singlespeed?

Just way I started my first day at college today in Joinery!
Give me a couple of years and I’ll make you the best wooden windows!

Saddle rails? Pedalling means movement which can make your saddle creak?

+1

I had this issue, drove me crazy it did, friend suggested saddle rails, loosened and re-tightened, Creek disappeared!

Plenty to be had, heading North, Through Bestwood Park, Burnstump, up and around Samson Woods you can ride all the way up to pines and back and barely touch tarmac.

Daytime or Nighttime :wink:

He said no 29ers, we should respect that even if it is the wrong decision.

You’d understand if yo were my height.

Slight derail here, but can I ask how long it took to get your offer? I put a claim in this week, so just wondering when I’ll be back out again. Cheers

Phoned insurance company last Friday, Passed me onto Wheelies this Tuesday just gone, Valued Custom bike yesterday,
From what I’ve read I’ve been on of the quicker cases but I have been on their back at every second,
Ask Names and timelines,
I personally have had a nice experience with Wheelies but because their own stock is RRP I’m going to take the money and buy more bike than they can offer me.

Canyon bikes look great Value and I’m struggling to find anything close, Although I’ve minced around briefly before, Not been able to test ride one beforehand is a bummer.
LBS will be visited before I make a final choice I’ve also got a Specialized concept store round the corner, Be interesting to see what they can offer.

Codiene isn’t a bad shout but I’m real small, I wanted to stay clear of 29ers
Remedy isn’t a bad shout either, Will have a look around for 2014 models going cheap.
That Cannondale is frickin horrific looking! Never been a fan of the lefty fork, Beauty in symmetry and what not!

Any suggestions of bikes at £1700?!

decline it

This is what I insured them at and I’d rather not push my luck, the Shed was locked but with a bare minimum lock.

Are they likely to go out of their way to supply an identical build of my prince albert? i.e. order the frame themselves and build it component for component?
I’ll say I want my bike as it was, surely they’re just going to cough up the full value?!

With the Sirrus, as its a common bike, Will I have trouble convincing them Its a sirrus or the Cash?

Please, If and When I get my bike back we should go for a ride!

That was my first mountain bike only 5 years ago, Worked for me until I updated everything!

I heard the Shimano AM45’s were a massive improvement on the older MP66’s?

Can anyone clarify this? I read somewhere that AM45 were pretty water resistant?

New 2FO coming soon from specialized looks good.

That they do but they also look rather holey, Not great for our wet climate?!

What experience do you have Shep?
and what did you do before?

Just a little update from my original post,

Went to college open day, spoke to the tutors (one of which taught me 13 years ago)
Joinery NVQ has been put on back burner and they’re pushing the Carpentry qualification,
My application for enrollment has been put forward.

I’ve put application in for one or two positions in joinery, heading letters and CV’s going out to potential employers.

If I don’t hear anything within the next week I have a supervision with management in my current support worker role, I will be honest about my current desires and hope that I can work out been flexiable around my college course which is two days a week while I continue to look for employment within joinery/carpentry.

I’m genuinely making this happen for myself and it feels good but a tad scary too!

fingers crossed and looking forward to a longer term future with more progression! :D

Great day yesterday, bigger turn out than expected which helped complete the short rocky climb on section 4, with a couple of steps put in this is and will continue to be a challenging climb,
at the the top we built a smooth rock feature that will help pick up the speed into the downhill through the trees,
Next up (dependent on numbers) will be improving that trail, with improved Berms.

Next Dig day is this Sunday followed by another on Wednesday the 16th,

Be the change you want to see!

*more

They’ll be days to come.

It’s on! Tomorrow is the first of the organised Dig Days,
If your still keen to help out, please please turn up!
If you can’t make tomorrow, they have another organised for Sunday!

All information can be found here

See you tomorrow!

Sorry op for hijacking the thread.

Happy to hear your story!

although a sense of humour is a prerequisite.

My current job has sucked out any humour I had, I fear I may struggle in any new site/factory setting.

So when do I start then???

Oh yeah, where did you say you’re based?! :wink:

Seriously though thanks for the help, Massively appreciated!

There’s an open day at the college tomorrow,
Need to get my bearings on that front first before I draw up a CV.

I’d be looking at a relatively basic job in the production line, with the opportunity to move up rapidly as you either proved yourself, or increased your skill base.

Can I assume it would help my cause if I started an NVQ, funded by myself?
If so, How flexible could you be to work around my college course?

Whats your typical workshop hours?
For example the local joinery course I looked at is only 2 days a week,
Would you be able to provide 30+ hours on a basic production line job with shifts to fit around two weekdays at college?

Sorry, a little off topic but happy to answer any more questions.

Not at all, Great to have insight from a (Non) potential employer!

Out of interest, how would you feel about someone like myself turning up to ask advice on my situation? i.e college, apprenticeship.
Or would I be better to just get CV’s out there? with the self funded NVQ ball rolling for this September.

You will have to prepare to have a few years not earning much

Currently earning a little over minimum wage so at least working in joinery I could be working towards a more comfortable wage unlike now where there is no light at the end of the tunnel!

Oh, and keep your head down.

I think I’m ready to be at that place now!

chance for 3 or 4 careers yet.

I’ve always wanted to be a UPS driver so I could drive around in those vans with an open door and shorts, Hope yet.

Sounds to me like you’re a prime candidate for starting your own business.

Tad premature? I lack the knowledge and confidence to do anything on my own! I certainly would like to in the future but I need to gain the experience of working with wood again.

Have now been employed at the same place for the past 12 years and love it.

Sounds good, How’s business doing recently? Has the company been taking on new people?
What sort of things to build?

Go for it.

I’ve got that feeling!

You can choose from evening classes, 1,2 or 3 days a week, level 1,2 and 3 City & Guilds.

Evening classes would be ideal, Unfortunately your location isn’t,
An hour and 19 minutes from door to door, Feasable for many people but I’ve just lost the car to the wife (whom works community based, across the east midlands).
I believe the NVQ level 2 & 3 I gained over 10 years ago are City and Guilds.

The courses you link to there look more on the carpentry side of things. We have carpentry at our college but our course is specifically Cabinetmaking/Furniture making.

I’m certainly interested in going down the Bench Joinery route,
Am I correct in thinking that not only can bench joiners earn more but there is more potential work out there for them over furniture makers?
That said I certainly wouldn’t dismiss Furniture making.

Kayak23, The workshop and course looks almost identical to the course I originally did, I only wish I applied myself at the time,
I guess I enjoyed my youth but it’s hard to swallow, thinking where I could be now had I chosen more wisely!
That said I can’t have regrets and I now have the clarity and knowledge to make more informed choices!

Would a level 2 NVQ be a minimum standard required by most employers? Or is it more down to experience?

Excellent question,
I could potentially continue to work as a support worker while working full time at college but surely I could find an employer as a laborer?
its whether or not a workshop environment could be as flexible with working hours as my support worker role could be,
An apprenticeship with one or two days at college while gaining real workshop experience would be surely the best option?

If you were somerset based, I’d jump at the chance if employing someone with skills, the right attitude and a willingness to learn.

What level of skills are you talking? It’s over ten years since been in a workshop, how would you judge me to be a suitable candidate?

Moneys a little tight he moans but then he was on a whack, but he chages £400 a day

At £400 a day, I could never ever moan.

I’m getting the whole replace the lever concept!
Hence

before the replacement lever arrives (next week now)

Just thought I’d ask if there were thoughts on a quick but reasonable fix in the meantime!

overestimating the strength of glue and tape

I guess so.

But here you go anyway

Thanks but a little more than I’d care to spend!

I’ll think I’ll wait until the delivery.

I can’t work out how you could possible use a brake with it slammed up against the grip like that!

I’ve small hand’s and short finger’s, Why would I make it harder for myself?

UPDATE!!!

Fin came home Saturday just gone,
Came through the cat flap at 2am, Straight to the food, looking somewhat thinner than we last saw him but in general good health,
Slept on our bed for 3 days straight bar the odd food and toilet breaks.

We reckon he got locked in a shed/outbuilding.

Emotionally not a nice thing to go through and I should imagine not a nice experience for Fin,

Lots of cuddles for the lil man and lessons have been learnt,
It’s ok to leave a cat for a night I guess but longer is tough on them regardless of how independent you think they are.

What does everyone else do with their cats on 2-4 days away?

Clearly in a rush, His jacket is inside out.

these?
If so there just your standard, great tires but no black chilli,
You want some of these

Awesome tires.

Leaving a cat for 3 days? Did the friend feed it?

That was the idea, I’m certain it worked as he was last spotted on the Sunday Afternoon, that and I trust the friend in question!

Thanks for the positive advice,

Posters up, flyers posted, Neighbours met (All of which were really nice!)

Cat has a collar, is microchipped, vets informed,
I’m certain we’ve done everything in our power now the wait,
When I see him I’m going to be so pissed off with him! but it’ll a massive relief!

Just got home after my first Dyfi, Snapped my Brake clean off the handlebars on a descent near the beginning,
Was enjoying myself too much and choose the wrong line, Over my bars and bike landing on top of me,
Photographer/steward asked if I was okay? As I was laughing then noticed my brake was hanging off, “Yup, but my bikes not!”

Duck tape saved the day,
Knocked my confidence a little but I completed the full long route, be it at the back of the pack.

Oh and the Cramp! the life sucking, leg snapping Cramp! right on the final short climb!

Can’t wait for next year :D
Hows about the Coed Y Brenin Enduro?

Massive thanks to everyone involved in making it a superb introduction to such events!